Oct 20, 2015

Re: Exemption Request Under Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

APPLICANT: 

Joseph Forsyth 6390 Rancho Mission Rd # 202, San Diego, Ca 92108

bgdogjo26@gmail.com

REGULATIONS FOR WHICH EXEMPTION IS BEING SOUGHT: 

14 C.F.R. Part 21;

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a);

14 C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2);

14 C.F.R. 91.109 (a)

14 C.F.R. 91.119;

14 C.F.R. 91.105;

14 C.F.R. 91.151 (a);

14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b);

14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a);

14 C.F.R. 91.407 (a) (1);

14 C.F.R. 91.409 (a) (2);

14 C.F.R. 91.417 (a) 

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform Act”) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Joseph 

Forsyth, an operator of the DJI Phantom 2 (“DP2”) Unmanned Aircraft System (“UAS”) seeks exemption from the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) as described below. The exemption request will permit Joseph Forsyth to operate UASs 

commercially for the purpose of filming and photographing property, people, and events. Joseph Forsyth will provide a 

service that is beneficial to an industry that is already using, and seeking to use, UASs for these purposes with a legal and 

safe option while providing relevant experience and information to the FAA and the UAS community.

This will benefit the public with the controlled operation of UASs by Joseph Forsyth and increased integration into the 

National Airspace System (“NAS”). All operations by Joseph Forsyth will strictly adhere to safety, applicable FARs, 

Operator’s Handbook, applicable Airworthiness Directives, and all other guidelines from the FAA. Joseph Forsyth will, at all 

times, conduct operations in a manner as to maintain the same level of safety as current manned aircraft operations. Joseph 

Forsyth will operate exclusively in controlled conditions, within visual line of sight (“VLOS”), at low altitudes of 400 feet 

above ground level (“AGL”), or no higher than 200 feet above the highest obstacle (“AHO”) with prior Flight Safety District 

Office (“FSDO”) approval. Any UAS in operation by Joseph Forsyth will not exceed 55 lbs. weight. At all times Joseph 

Forsyth will, maintain safe operations, ensure current requirements are met, and consistently assure an open line of 

communication with the FAA. Joseph Forsyth will maintain the highest of standards in all UASs operations.

Joseph Forsyth is aware of the progressive attitude that the FAA is extending toward adoption of UAS technology and the 

future airspace integration. It is in light of this attitude and in the spirit of the proposed rules for circulation that applicant 

specifically requests a waiver of the requirement to hold either an airline, transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport 

pilot certificate. The capabilities and experience of the operator are detailed further in Appendix A, and the failsafe 

capabilities that are a core of the design of the proposed UAS exceed those found in traditional airframes. Given the greatly 

reduced potential for injury and/or damage of UAS operation in accordance with the enclosed exemption requests, applicant 

wishes to forgo the requirement to assign operation of the aircraft to an operator who may hold an airman certificate, but lack 

the necessary experience in operating a multi-rotor UAS. Applicant will understand that approval of this exemption request is 
in accordance with the highlighted specificities noted in this paragraph.

With Respect, 

Joseph Forsyth

APPENDIX A

EXEMPTION REQUEST AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY SHOWINGS UNDER APPLICABLE RULES 

SUBJECT TO EXEMPTION